Lessons from a Two Dog Household

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Well...I survived the first week of my life as a double doodle mommy! Whew!  What an eventful week!  I thought I'd share with you some of what I learned.

 

1.  Before you get 2 doodles, make sure you have a king sized bed!  I didn't realize how much more crowded you can get with yourself, spouse, 40 pound mini doodle, and 60 pound standard doodle!

2.  Going for errands with BOTH doodles is not quite as easy.  I was bound and determined to take Maggie with me for my morning coffee run (as Bexter always has done).  No problem getting Maggie into the van.  However, getting her out was another story.  She is a little scared to do that.  I had to pull and push and pull and push.  She knocked over my coffee cup which spilled coffee onto my van floor.  Well...so much for the coffee run!

3.  Double doodles = double poop!  My kids are thrilled about this since it is THEIR job to pick up the poop from the yard.  Needless to say, I am actually getting REAL pooper-scoopers today rather than their toy shovels they use!

4.  It is really hard to figure out who ate whose food!  I am still working on that one!!!

5.  It is sooo fun to watch them play together!

6.  Unless "playing together" results in Bexter introducing Maggie to the muddy corner of our yard...I was enjoying the weather yesterday grading papers on my deck...watching my boys play soccer (each of them chose a dog to be on his team)...thinking how wonderful and complete my life is.  I get done grading my papers and to my horror  turn to see this...

 And then this...

And I'm thinking OMD!  That stinker Bexter has corrupted my sweet and innocent Maggie!

So, needless to say, I am realizing that TWO DOODLES is DOUBLE the bathing & grooming time!  As a matter of fact, while I am typing this blog, DH is busily trying to solve the problem of the muddy corner because I had to give Maggie ANOTHER CLEANING this morning before church due to this problem.  It may not look too great in the yard, but problem SOLVED.

 7.  I also have learned that sometimes two doodle siblings can get a little rowdy in the house.  When they do, it is TIME OUT as you can see here.

 

 8.  I did learn that one doodle can teach the other something useful (I'm NOT talking about Bexter teaching Maggie the muddy corner).  Bexter actually helped teach Maggie to go in her crate.  He is VERY good about going when we say "Go to your crate!"  She wouldn't budge at first.  Now, she goes in just as easily as Bexter!  Good boy, Bexter!  Maggie is attempting to teach Bexter not to chew on our blanket.  Last night, we were ALL snuggling in our bed (too bad I don't have a picture of that for ya) when Bexter started munching on our blanket.  We said a firm, "BEXTER, NO!"  Every time we said that (yes, we had to say it more than just once...), Maggie would kind of slap Bexter's head with her paw.  It was hysterical.  It was like she was saying, "KNOCK IT OFF before we get kicked off the bed!"  Good girl, Maggie!

 9.  The most important lesson I have learned is that double doodles = double the love and double the joy.  I can't imagine not having my two doodles in my life.  Getting Maggie has completed my family - and hey, I finally can buy pink!  My decision to get her will be one that I am ever grateful I made...and I will always remember that it's okay to think with your heart!

 

 

 

 

 

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Glad you have your little girl.  Sounds like things are wonderful!

[Jennifer and Jack]

So cute mud and all!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

ahhh Traci, that muddy picture is all too familiar to me.  :)

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Traci, I was impatiently awaiting your update to see how those first days were going. I'm so happy to hear you are having a blast and the doodles are getting along great. They are adorable together. I was just thinking about the double bathing problem yesterday when I was giving Monty a bath and my back was hurting from being bent over the tub. By the way, I LOVE your huge yard.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Traci, I love this blog! It's hilarious that Maggie is giving Bexter a swat to stop his blanket chewing. I wish my "good boy" would swat his naughty brother when the antics begin! The good thing is the naughty guy doesn't tempt our angel dood to chew or steal stuff. Phew! You have a beautiful yard and beautiful doodles.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Traci, Thanks for the update. I am glad everything is working out so great for all of you. Congratulations and welcome to Double Doodledom :)

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Traci, thanks for updating us on how things are going! Looks like it's love, all the way around -- muddy doodles or squeaky clean! Love the visual of your boys choosing a doodle as a teammate! How fun for them!

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

ROFL'ed at the mud pictures! Twice the grooming indeed! (Was reflecting last weekend that I used to be able to do 8-10 dogs a day and now it takes me 3 days to do 2 dogs!)

Very glad they're getting along so well, and looooove the pictures!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Love the part about Maggie slapping Bexter for chewing the blanket! You can see she has a mother's instincts!

And the photos are great!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Glad to hear they are getting along :)  Luna spent a large part of our dog park walk today investigating EVERY mud puddle along the way.

DF and I will likely be getting a 2nd dog in the (not so near) future, but we want to wait till after we start our human family first ;)  Luna should be older and wiser (and a bit less crazy!) by then.